Northgard is a Viking real time strategy game from Shiro Games, first released on 7 March 2018 and now sold on Steam as Northgard: Definitive Edition. You settle a newly discovered continent one territory at a time, assigning villagers to jobs, feeding them through winters that raise food and wood consumption, and choosing which of the several victory paths to chase. Clans are the real depth here: the base roster of Stag, Wolf, Goat, Raven and Bear plays very differently, and the clan list has grown past fifteen with Kraken, Ox, Lynx, Squirrel, Rat and more. A match usually runs 40 to 90 minutes and is decided long before the fighting starts.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Your Town Hall territory
Key resources: Villager production, resource storage, the starting building slots Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Shield Bearer upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Fertile Land
Key resources: Farm output, food security through winter, contested early expansion Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Shield Bearer upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Iron Deposit
Key resources: Iron for the Warchief at 5 per hire, Forge upgrades, military scaling Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Shield Bearer upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Yggdrasil
Key resources: Instant victory once the colonisation completes Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Warrior max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Odin's Sword
Key resources: Instant victory once all three sword parts are forged Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Warrior max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Your Town Hall territory to Fertile Land)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Shield Bearer once accessible
Mid Game (Iron Deposit)
- Push Shield Bearer to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Warrior
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Yggdrasil to Odin's Sword)
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Iron Deposit farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Send your Scout out in the first seconds of a match, because unexplored territories hide relics, hostile camps and the special victory zone you may want to plan around.
- Farm Iron Deposit during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Northgard: Definitive Edition Guides
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Northgard: Definitive Edition Overview
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Best Builds
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Tier List
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Walkthrough
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Beginner's Guide
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Tips & Tricks
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Weapons Guide
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Combat Guide
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Boss Guide
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Maps & Locations
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Northgard: Definitive Edition, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Crafting Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Crafting Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Crafting Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
